Veni, vidi, vici is a famous Latin phrase spoken by Julius Caesar in 47 BC following his decisive defeat of Pharnaces II of Pontus. Its meaning is "I came, I saw, I conquered." As one of many Latin phrases that have persisted throughout the history of Western civilization,[1] the phrase is often quoted in music, art and literature, and a variety of other contexts. Variations of the phrase, including parodic forms, are common as well.

The phrase appears frequently in literature: William Shakespeare referenced it in four of his works, Miguel Cervantes used it in Don Quixote, and numerous other authors including Henry David Thoreau, Victor Hugo, and Wilkie Collins, have made use of the phrase as as well.

The repetitive phrase lends itself to lyrical use, ranging from the opening of Handel's opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto, through These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You), written in 1936, to modern works like "Numb / Encore" by Jay-Z and Linkin Park.

The phrase has also permeated the culture in a number of other contexts, such as the scientific name of the Conquered Lorikeet, Vini vidivici. It is often used as a motto or a tagline, due to its forceful connotation; it is in the coat of arms of Philip Morris International[2] and a misspelled version ("Vini, Vidi, Vici") is used as the motto for the US Army Sniper School in Fort Benning, Georgia.[3]

Literature

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Music

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Politics

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Television/Movies

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  • The television show Doug from Nickelodeon used the term in the form of a magical incantation.[15]
  • Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis, in their script for Ghostbusters, parody the phrase as "We came, we saw, we kicked its ass," spoken by Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) after capturing the ghost Slimer.[16]
  • An episode of Doogie Howser, M.D. was titled "Vinnie Video Vici".[17]
  • In Ernest Goes to Jail, Jim Varney's character Ernest P. Worrell says after a bomb goes off, "I came, I saw, I got blowed up."
  • In the original pilot to the series The Black Adder, the family crest read "Veni Vidi Castratavi Illegitimos" which translates roughly as "I came, I saw, I castrated the bastards."
  • In the TV show The Vicar of Dibley, the Horton motto is "veni, vidi, spurius brutus deitrum covi". It means "I came, I saw, I tore the thick bastards limb from limb".
  • Tigger proclaims "I came, I sawed, I hammered" in a Winnie the Pooh video.
  • In an episode of Clone High, the clone of Julius Caesar uses a parody of the phrase, saying, "Veni, vidi, booyah."
  • In Ocean's Eleven, Rubin states that a man who tried to rob a casino was killed, saying, "He came, he grabbed, they conquered."
  • In the episode "Needle in a Haystack" of House M.D., Gregory House says "Veni, vidi, vici" to Wilson to declare his victory in a bet with Cuddy for a handicapped parking space.
  • It was used by the character Ari Gold on the HBO series Entourage, and again by the character Johnny "Drama" Chase when he finally buys a condo in the end of the third season.
  • In the episode "Shadow" of Supernatural, the character Meg uses the phrase.
  • In an episode of Johnny Bravo, the title character says, "I came, I saw, I broke a hip."
  • In an episode of Jackie Chan Adventures, the character 'Jade' says: "We came, We saw, We kicked demon butt!"
  • In The Substitute, a season two episode of Everybody Hates Chris, Chris' substitute teacher says 'Veni vedi veci, it means I came, I saw, I conquered." Chris replies "Eenie meenie miny mo, catch a tiger by its toe".

Computer games

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  • In the popular MMORPG EverQuest, there is a knockoff of Veni, Vidi, Vici. An NPC in the Planes of Mischief named Vinny V. D'Vicci.
  • There is a level on the computer game Anno 1602, on the campaign On his majesty's service.
  • The computer game The Settlers II used the phrase as its subtitle.
  • In Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc, Razoff the Hunter sometimes says the line "I came, I saw, I kicked some butt!"
  • In Unreal Tournament the phrase can be seen written on the pillars in the trophy room in the single player ladder game.
  • In Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest, a legion unit sometimes says "Veni, Vidi, Vici" when selected.
  • "Veni, Vidi, Vici" is used in the audio for a video slot machine called "Pompeii" manufactured by Aristocrat Gaming. The words are spoken as each of the symbols for a coin with the likeness of Caesar appear. If at least three appear on the screen at the same time, a bonus game situation begins.

Other

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References

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  1. ^ Veni, vidi, vici: how Latin lives on Guardian Unlimited (Thursday October 25, 2001)
  2. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=_7XprHvrUrAC&pg=PA213
  3. ^ http://www.warbooks.com/Graphics/snipersch.jpg
  4. ^ a b c http://books.google.com/books?id=rVHemf5TJp8C&pg=PA119&dq=%22veni+vidi+vici%22
  5. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=Soh9UVaIqRMC&pg=PA6&dq=%22veni+vidi+vici%22
  6. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=3A0SF9sk3EIC&pg=PA515&dq=%22veni+vidi+vici%22
  7. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=ivSnU3kEjQAC&pg=PA288
  8. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=9z-Qv-FUAB4C&pg=PA168&dq=%22veni+vidi+vici%22
  9. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=VcVgyYHd3OMC&pg=PA597&dq=%22veni+vidi+vici%22
  10. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=gwAixoe1lTwC&pg=PA285&lpg=PA285&dq=%22veni+vidi+fugi%22
  11. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=fTgYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22veni+vidi+vici%22
  12. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thehives/albums/album/91540/review/6210977
  13. ^ http://www.ocweekly.com/music/music/flower-punks-sonic-bloom/27879/
  14. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=JI0NAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA379&lpg=PA379&dq=%22veni+vidi+fugi%22
  15. ^ "Doug's Magic Act". Doug. 1993-07-11. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=SIPYcbtYo3IC&pg=PA155
  17. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0564437/
  18. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=_7XprHvrUrAC&pg=PA213
  19. ^ http://www.warbooks.com/Graphics/snipersch.jpg
  20. ^ http://www.vueling.com/ES/vueling/acerca_02d.php
  21. ^ Welcome to WikiCamp
  22. ^ http://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=%22vidi+visa%22
  23. ^ http://www.google.com/search?q=%22veni,+vidi,+volo+in+domum+redire%22
  24. ^ http://www.google.com/search?q=%22veni+vidi+veggie%2
  25. ^ http://www.frommers.com/destinations/atlanta/D35758.html
  26. ^ http://www.frommers.com/destinations/toronto/D42693.html
  27. ^ http://www.frommers.com/destinations/sierranationalforestandthecentralvalley/D43620.html
  28. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=hP6o9HzG8rcC&pg=PA117&dq=%22veni+vidi+vici%22
  29. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=ildOSz1bKuMC&pg=PA55
  30. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A02EFD91F3CF933A25751C1A9669C8B63